Retractable roof and vehicle fitted with said device

ABSTRACT

A retractable roof for a vehicle, including a roof panel configured to be displaced by a guide from a closed position in the passenger area of the vehicle to a retracted position in a rear area of the vehicle. The roof also includes a rear cover structure including a rear shelf. The rear shelf can be automatically controlled between a rest position and an open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to retractable-roof devices and tovehicles equipped with such devices. More particularly, it relates toretractable-roof devices capable of being stored in a part of a vehicletrunk.

II. Description of Related Art

Such structures and associated mechanisms are described and illustratedin German Patents 4445580 and 4445944. The first patent describes arigid roof that can be retracted into part of the trunk, this roof beingarticulated by a quadrilateral articulation system. The second patentdescribes a trunk door whose mechanism permits opening toward the frontfor storage of luggage and opening toward the rear to permit the passageof a rigid roof.

The structures illustrated in these patents suffer from severaldisadvantages, such as the number of parts necessary, which addsrestrictive weight and cost and which does not permit reliablerepeatability of assembly. The large number of parts used in thedifferent rod assemblies also suffers from a disadvantage in terms ofsystem stability. In addition, these patents do not take into accountthe problems posed by management of the rear panel during movement ofthe roof structure or the problems of interaction between the vehiclebody and the arms of mechanisms passing through this body.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improvement ofthese retractable-roof devices.

The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with such a device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described exclusively by way ofexample and with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view from above of a device of a retractable roof with arear shelf according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view from the side of a shelf analogous to FIG. 1, in a restposition;

FIG. 3 is a partial view from the side of the rear shelf of FIG. 1, inrest position;

FIG. 4 is a partial view from the side of the rear shelf of FIG. 1, inopen position;

FIG. 5 is a view from below of the rear shelf according to theinvention, with a closure flap in stored position;

FIG. 6 is a view from below of the rear shelf according to theinvention, with a closure flap in deployed position; and

FIG. 7 is a view from the side of the shelf of FIG. 1, in a restposition, and showing a roof panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to these figures, a vehicle is equipped with a device for aretractable roof. In order to clarify the description hereinafter, thetwo extreme positions of the roof will be defined.

When the panel of roof 26 is resting on the vehicle frame, and inparticular on the upper pillar of the windshield, or in other words whenthe roof is performing a function of covering the passenger compartmentformed by the vehicle operator's station and the set of passenger seats,the roof is said to be in closed position.

When the entirety of the roof is lodged in the storage space reservedtherefor in the rear 8 of the vehicle, such that the passengercompartment formed by the vehicle operator's station and the set ofpassenger seats is then uncovered, the roof is said to be in retractedposition.

In a configuration with the roof in closed position, a rear cover 10structure is situated behind the roll bars. Advantageously, it comprisesa substantially horizontal rear shelf 12. On both sides of the shelf 12,transversely relative to the vehicle, arms (including interior arm 16)are deployed to support the roof, including supporting roof panel 26 ascan be seen in FIG. 7. In open position, the rear shelf 12 is situatedin the same substantially horizontal manner behind the roll bars. Onboth sides of the shelf 12, transversely relative to the vehicle, inorder to conceal the space left unoccupied by the arms that are integralwith the roof and that from now on are in the storage space reserved forthe roof at the rear 8 of the vehicle, flaps, referred to as closureflaps 14 are displaced from a stored position to a deployed position,making it possible to conceal the unoccupied space. The presence of suchflaps 14 is necessary from an esthetic viewpoint so that the vehicle inopen position exhibits a continuous surface, from an aerodynamicviewpoint in order to avoid perturbations in air flow, and also toensure sealed condition of the mechanism present under the shelf 12.

In order to permit retraction of the roof into the storage space at therear 8 of the vehicle, the rear shelf 12 changes position and shiftssuccessively from an initial position known as rest position, preferablysubstantially horizontal, to a so-called open position, preferablysubstantially vertical, in order to make space for the passage of theroof, before finally returning to a substantially horizontal position.

Advantageously, when the roof is in closed position or in retractedposition, the rear shelf 12 is oriented at an angle to the horizontalplane, in such a way that the rear portion of the shelf 12 is lower thanthe front portion of the shelf 12.

The movement of the rear shelf 12 during retraction of the roof can takeplace in the following manner:

In closed position, the substantially horizontal shelf 12 is pinched inits rear portion by the rear portion of the roof panel 26 and the trunklid 6, as can be seen in FIG. 7. When the vehicle operator instructs theroof to open, a control unit actuates a first movement of the trunk doorto release the storage space reserved for the roof in the rear 8 portionof the vehicle. While the trunk door continues to pivot toward the rear8 of the vehicle around a transverse shaft of the vehicle, the roof iscaused to move by a hydraulic action of a control lifter. Via a systemof cams 24 s, the rotary movement of the roof causes a rotary movementof the shelf 12. In order to permit release of the rear shelf 12 fromthe pinching applied by the roof, the rear shelf 12 performs a firstrotary movement toward the base of the vehicle, around a transverseshaft of the vehicle. When the rear portion of the roof that waspreviously pinching the shelf 12 is situated at a vertical level lowerthan that of the shelf 12, the shelf 12 performs a second rotarymovement, this time toward the top of the vehicle, around the sametransverse shaft. This second rotary movement continues until the shelf12 becomes stopped in substantially vertical position. While the shelf12 is in this stopped position, the roof continues to be retracted intothe storage space reserved for it, from now on also causing rotation ofthe closure flaps 14.

The folding down of the shelf 12 then is controlled by the folding downof the trunk door. A mechanical cable, such as that used for bicyclebrake cables, known by the name Bowden cable, transmits a forcegenerated by the closing mechanism of the trunk door to a deviceconnected to the shelf 12. When the trunk door is instructed by thecontrol unit to fold down, or in other words while the roof has not yetbeen fully retracted, a simultaneous movement of the rear shelf 12 isgenerated by the cable link, in such a way as to cause the rear shelf12, now inserted between the two closure flaps 14, to return to asubstantially horizontal position.

The movement of the rear shelf 12 to permit the passage of the roof froma retracted position to a closed position is symmetrically identical.The shelf 12 is first brought into substantially stopped verticalposition then restored to substantially horizontal position. Thesemovements are created by the rotation of the roof as it returns to aclosed position and by the action of the Bowden cable as it transmitsthe movements of the trunk door to the shelf 12.

As seen in the foregoing, when the roof is in retracted position, it isnecessary to have closure flaps 14 on both sides of the rear shelf 12for esthetic, aerodynamic and sealing needs. When the roof is in closedposition, these same closure flaps 14 cannot be in this position,because they would cause movement of the arms associated with the roof.In closed position, these flaps 14 are therefore slipped under the rearshelf 12. The principle of movement of the flaps 14 is as follows:

The flaps 14 remain slipped under the shelf 12 when the roof is inclosed position and when this roof starts to undergo a rotary movement.They remain slipped into this position until the shelf 12 becomesstopped in substantially vertical position. In this position, therotation of the roof around a transverse shaft of the vehicle causesdisplacement of the flaps 14 by cam 24 s. In order to shift from aposition slipped under the shelf 12 to a position beside the shelf 12,while forming a plane with this shelf 12, the movement of the flaps 14must be both a movement of release from under the shelf 12 and atranslational movement to arrive at the same height as the shelf 12.Advantageously, these two movements are achieved simultaneously by ahelicoidal rotation. It will be understood that these two movements canbe achieved successively by a rotational movement followed by atranslational movement, or by two translational movements.

The respective movements of the closure flaps 14 and of the shelf 12 aretherefore generated by a common rotary mechanism based on the initialrotary movement of the roof.

A continuous rotary movement of the roof causes two successivemovements, the movement of the shelf 12 first and then the movement ofthe closure flaps 14. By virtue of the symmetry relative to thecenterline of the vehicle, the mechanism described hereinafter for theleft side of the vehicle is the same for the right side.

The continuous rotary movement of the roof is generated by hydrauliccontrol. A lifter composed of a body and piston is articulated on thebody, at the end of the lifter body via which the piston emerges. Suchan articulation allows movement of the lifter body without too much lossof longitudinal thrust of the piston. This piston movement generates themovement of two rods connected respectively to the free end of thepiston. A first rod is integral with the body, ensuring both guidance ofthe movement of the piston and stability of the latter when it isextended, and a second rod, known as the leverage-reducing rod, mountedto rotate freely around the interior arm 16 of the roof, the armsupporting the roof being situated toward the passenger compartment,ensures that the translational movement of the piston can be transferredto a rotational movement of this interior arm 16. The leverage-reducingrod pulls the interior arm 16 toward the lifter when the piston isretracted and conversely pushes the interior arm 16 when the pistonextends outside the lifter body. Since the lower portion of the interiorarm 16 is mounted to rotate around a fixed shaft, known as principalpivot shaft 22, the displacement of the interior arm 16 is therefore arotational movement around that shaft. The set of different pivot pointsformed by, among other components, this pivot shaft, the pivot pointsbetween the structure of the roof and the upper portions of the interiorand exterior arms, and a pivot point between the lower portion of theexterior arm and the body form an articulated quadrilateral, whosemovement is generated by rotation of the interior arm 16 around theprincipal pivot shaft 22. The mobility of the roof, supported by thearticulated quadrilateral, is therefore created by the substantiallylongitudinal movement of the piston and is effected via a rotation ofthe principal shaft 22.

This principal pivot shaft 22 also carries at least one first pulley 20having a flange perpendicular to the pivot shaft and a groove around theperiphery of the first pulley 20. The principal pivot shaft 22 alsocarries at least one cam 24 having a radial protuberance. At its end,the interior arm 16 extends toward the interior of the vehicle, thisextension being parallel to the principal pivot shaft 22. The relativeposition of the different elements carried by the principal pivot shaft22 is such that the interior arm 16 is situated toward the exterior ofthe vehicle, the cam 24 is situated toward the interior of the vehicleand the first pulley 20 is situated between the arm 16 and the cam 24.The extension of the interior arm 16 parallel to the principal pivotshaft 22 therefore intersects the plane of rotation of the first pulley20 and the radial flange of the first pulley 20 has a dimension suchthat it can be in contact with the extension of the interior arm 16parallel to the principal pivot shaft 22.

A substantially L-shaped lever is articulated at one of its ends on thecam 24 and has an orifice for passage of the radial protuberance of thecam 24 in an extreme position. The other end of the lever is mounted torotate around a shaft integral with the shelf 12.

A second pulley is mounted to rotate around a second pivot shaft 22carried by a housing, which also carries the principle pivot shaft 22.This second pulley has a groove in which a mechanical cable of thebicycle-brake type is inserted. This cable is connected to the openingmechanism of the trunk door.

The cam 24 is connected to one end of a restoring spring, whose otherend is integral with the housing. This restoring spring tends to returnthe shelf 12, via the cam 24 and the. L-shaped lever, to a substantiallyhorizontal position when the second pulley, which blocks the radialprotuberance of the cam 24, is actuated by the cable of the trunk door.The cam 24 is then released and returns into contact with the extensionof the interior arm 16 because of the action of the restoring spring.

The extension of the interior arm 16 has a first and a second surfacecapable of cooperating simultaneously with a third surface of the flangeof the first pulley 20 and with a fourth surface of the cam 24. Thesethird and fourth surfaces are arranged so that, in a rest position whenthe shelf 12 is lowered and the roof is closed, they are not located ina plane parallel to the plane defined by the first and second surfacesof the extension of the interior arm 16. The cam 24 is therefore offsetin rest position relative to the first pulley 20, in such a way that,during retraction of the roof and therefore rotation of the interior arm16 the second surface of the extension of the interior arm 16 firstcomes into contact with the fourth surface of the cam 24 and at firstcreates rotation of the cam 24 around the principal pivot shaft 22. Therotation of this cam 24 causes on the one hand displacement of theL-shaped lever and therefore of the shelf 12 into a vertical position,and on the other hand the displacement of the radial protuberance of thecam 24, which then becomes engaged in a slot of the second pulley.

While retraction of the roof is continuing, or in other words whilerotation of the interior arm 16 around the principal pivot shaft 22 iscontinuing, the first surface of the extension of the interior arm 16now comes into contact with the third surface of the first pulley 20 andcreates a rotation of the first pulley 20 around the principal pivotshaft 22. A cable of the bicycle-brake type is fixed in the groove ofthis first pulley 20, and the rotation of this first pulley 20 generatesa tractive force on this cable; at the other end of the cable, thistractive force acts on an actuating mechanism 18 of the closure flaps14. This actuating mechanism 18 of the closure flaps 14 is fixed to theshelf 12 and consists of a shaft integral with the shelf 12 and acylinder carrying the closure flap 14. The movement of the cylinderrelative to the shaft is a helicoidal rotary movement, which permitsrelease of the flap 14 from underneath the shelf 12 and at the same timeallows the flap 14 to be restored to a substantially equivalent verticallevel. The helicoidal rotary movement of the closure flaps 14 istherefore initiated by the rotation of the first pulley 20 carried bythe principal pivot shaft 22.

It will be understood that the movement of the closure flaps 14 beginsduring retraction of the roof, while the shelf 12 is substantially invertical position. This movement of the flaps 14 is ended when the roofis already retracted and the trunk door resumes its initial position.The assembly formed by the first pulley 20, the intermediate support andthe cam 24 being stopped against the extension of the interior arm 16the return of the rear shelf 12 to position is initiated by the start ofmovement of the trunk door. A cable connects the mechanism of this trunkdoor to the second pulley and permits release of the radial protuberanceof the cam 24, by creating a rotary movement of the second pulley. Themovement that is now permitted of the cam 24 and therefore of theL-shaped lever allows the shelf 12 to be returned to substantiallyhorizontal position. This substantially horizontal position is keptstopped by the contact of the shelf 12 on a pin integral with thehousing.

When the vehicle operator instructs the roof to close, the operationtakes place symmetrically in the same manner. The opening of the trunkdoor and the start of movement of the articulated assembly supportingthe roof cause the rear shelf 12 to become shifted into a substantiallyvertical position and cause the stops represented by the first andsecond surfaces of the extension of the interior arm 16 on the thirdsurface of the first pulley 20 and fourth surface of the cam 24 to bereleased. A spring system placed between the shaft and the cylinder usedfor the helicoidal rotation of the closure flaps 14 then permits, whenthe pressure exerted by the cable on the cylinder no longer exists, orin other words when the first pulley 20 is released following rotationof the principal shaft 22, the flaps 14 to be returned to position underthe shelf 12 in order to permit passage of the arms supporting thestructure of the roof.

The closed position of the roof, in which the articulated assemblysupporting the roof has a lower portion underneath the structure of thebody and an upper portion connected to the roof and therefore above thisstructure of the body, and the retracted position of this roof in whichthe articulated assembly is entirely situated underneath the structureof the body, entails the creation of an orifice in the structure of thebody to permit passage of the articulated assembly. These orificescannot be uncovered when the roof is in retracted position, foresthetic, aerodynamic and sealing reasons. Advantageously, the interiorarm 16 supporting the roof has an elbowed shape close to its lower end.This elbowed shape is complementary to a cam 24, belonging to a trapdoor, not illustrated, situated in the structure of the vehicle, in azone substantially close to the shelf 12. When the roof is activated inorder to return to closed position, the lower portion of the interiorarm 16 once again comes into contact with the cam 24 of the trap doorand creates a rotation of this cam 24 and of an associated plate andtherefore causes the trap door to open. The interior arm 16 and theexterior arm can then pass through this trap door in order to supportthe roof. A restoring spring is connected to the cam 24 of the trapdoor, in such a way that, during retraction of the roof, and thereforewhen the lower portion of interior arm 16 is no longer in contact withthe cam 24, this cam 24 resumes its rest position and causes the trapdoor to shut via return of the plate associated with the cam 24 to itsrest position.

The present invention also relates to a mechanism of the trunk door. Avehicle whose rigid roof can be retracted into a storage space reservedin the rear 8 of the vehicle must be equipped with a trunk door havingspecial kinematics.

Firstly, the trunk door must permit standard opening, in order to storeluggage in the trunk. For this purpose, the trunk door is mounted torotate around a transverse shaft in the portion of the trunk doorsituated farthest forward in the vehicle, when this trunk door is inclosed position: access to the trunk then takes place, when the trunkdoor is open, via the rear 8 of the vehicle.

Secondly, when the vehicle operator demands retraction of the roof, theroof becomes stored in a storage space reserved therefor in the zone ofthe trunk. The trunk door must therefore be opened to allow the roof topass, and a standard opening maneuver does not permit this. The trunkdoor must then pivot around a second transverse pivot shaft in theportion of the trunk situated farthest to the rear in the vehicle, whenthis trunk door is in closed position: access to the trunk then takesplace, when the trunk door is open, via the front of the vehicle andtherefore permits passage of the roof and its associated mechanism.

The trunk door is caused to move by an assembly of three principalelements, namely a locking device comprising a hinge of “gooseneck” typeand two lateral mechanisms disposed symmetrically on each side of thetrunk door. Only the lateral mechanism of the left side of the vehiclewill be described, since the lateral mechanism corresponding to theright side is symmetrically equivalent thereto.

This lateral mechanism is composed of a mounting plate integral with thebody, of an intermediate chassis articulated on this mounting plate, ofa first pneumatic system, one end of which is fixed on the mountingplate and the other end of which is connected to the intermediatechassis, and of an articulation system situated between the intermediatechassis and the trunk door and formed by rods and a second pneumaticsystem. The mounting plate makes it possible to combine, in the samepart, different functionalities, such as articulation of theintermediate chassis, immobilizing means offering the possibility oflocking this chassis in ready-to-mount position, the fixation of thefirst pneumatic system actuating the movement of the intermediatechassis. This mounting plate is made of relatively lightweight material,has small thickness and can advantageously be of triangular shape.

The intermediate chassis itself is made in one piece, havingsubstantially “double-L” shape. A first portion, known as thearticulation portion, is mounted on the mounting plate by a pivot jointaround a shaft substantially transverse relative to the vehicle andperpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate. This firstarticulation portion also carries the free end of the first pneumaticsystem, the translational movement of the piston generating, via thisfreely pivotal joint and the point of articulation of the chassis on themounting plate, a rotary movement of the intermediate chassis around ashaft transverse relative to the vehicle and perpendicular to the planeof the mounting plate. The intermediate chassis has a first elbowedportion that connects the first articulation portion to a secondportion, known as the transfer portion. This second transfer portion andthe first articulation portion are substantially at right angles. At theother end of the second transfer portion, a second elbowed portion isprolonged by a third portion, known as the support portion,substantially parallel to the first articulation portion. This thirdsupport portion has different articulation points, on which there arefixed the different rods of the articulation system, which system issituated between the third support portion of the intermediate chassisand a support plate integral with the trunk door. The free end of thepiston of the second pneumatic system is also fixed on the third supportportion of the chassis, the body of the lifter of the second pneumaticsystem being connected to the support plate integral with the trunkdoor.

During opening of the trunk door in the traditional manner for thepurpose of storing luggage, the piston of the second pneumatic system,compressed when the trunk door is closed, extends as soon as the lock ofthe trunk door is unlocked. The extension of this piston then createsopening of the trunk door, accompanied by the rods of the articulationsystem connected to the third support portion of the intermediatechassis. In such an opening, the intermediate chassis does not shift andremains fixed relative to the mounting plate because of the action ofimmobilizing means mounted on this mounting plate. A pin mounted on thechassis, for example at the second curved portion, may have for thispurpose a shape complementary to a system of hooks of immobilizingmeans. In this position, known as the rest position, the arrangement ofthe assembly formed by the mounting plate and the chassis is such thatadvantageously the first articulation portion and the third supportportion of the intermediate chassis are substantially orientedhorizontally and the second transfer portion is substantially orientedvertically. In order to ensure that the chassis catches in the lock inorder to return to a rest position, a pulley can be fixed on theintermediate chassis and be used as guide by virtue of the fact that itis complementary relative to a groove made on the mounting plate.Advantageously, this pulley/groove assembly is constructed at those endsof the mounting plate and of the chassis that are remote from theircommon articulation point.

The chassis must catch securely on the mounting plate in order to ensurethat the opening of the trunk door for storage of luggage takes placevia an articulation based on a substantially horizontal and rigidstructure. It is also favorable for the manufacturer during assembly ofthe vehicle, because the assembly formed by the mounting plate and thechassis caught in the lock can in this way be supplied ready to mountwithout exhibiting any dispersion as regards installation on eachvehicle. The repeatability that such a system exhibits then offers timesavings and installation quality that are favorable for themanufacturers.

During the opening of the trunk by rotation of the trunk door around thesecond transverse pivot shaft in the portion of the trunk door situatedfarthest to the rear of the vehicle, or in other words during theopening of the trunk door to permit retraction of the roof, theintermediate chassis is released from the lock of the mounting plate.The first pneumatic system is fixed on the mounting plate,advantageously in the lower part of this mounting plate, the free end ofthe piston being connected to the intermediate chassis as described inthe foregoing. The piston of the first pneumatic system, compressed whenthe intermediate chassis is in a rest position, extends as soon as thelock of the mounting plate no longer retains the pin of the intermediatechassis. The extension of this piston, then its actuation by hydraulicpressure, then creates rotation of the intermediate chassis around apivot shaft perpendicular to the mounting plate and thereforesubstantially parallel to the transverse second pivot shaft. In thisconfiguration, the actuation of the second pneumatic system, situatedbetween the third support portion of the chassis and the support plateintegral with the trunk door, is such that the second pneumatic systemremains compressed. The rods of the articulation system situated betweenthe third support portion of the intermediate chassis and the supportplate integral with the trunk door remain at rest and do not articulatein this case. The system transmits the rotary movement of theintermediate chassis to the trunk door, which undergoes a rotarymovement around a transverse shaft belonging to the trunk door anddifferent from the intermediate chassis.

This rotary movement is performed around a transverse shaft, whichadvantageously passes through the lock of the trunk door. This locktherefore has a special structure in order to take into account theopening of the trunk around this second transverse pivot shaft passingthrough the lock and to avoid generating force in the lock, which wouldbe the case with a traditional lock and a trunk door that shifts whileremaining caught. This lock is based on a structure formedadvantageously from two parts, a fixed casing integral with thestructure of the body of the vehicle and a hinge of gooseneck type,which travels in a slide of the casing. The curved shape of the slideand the corresponding shape of the hinge generate a movement of thishinge equivalent to a rotary movement around a transverse shaft that canbe assimilated with the second transverse pivot shaft around which thetrunk door rotates. The upper part of the gooseneck hinge carries thecatch and bolt of the lock, which will correspond to a zone arranged inthe lower portion of the trunk door. By virtue of the curved connectionbetween the casing and the hinge, the two elements of the lock carriedboth by the body and the trunk door can be inclined in coordinatedmanner. The movement of the gooseneck hinge corresponds to the movementof the trunk door in smaller proportions. This combination of movementspermits a rotary movement of the trunk door without generating force onthe lock in contact with this trunk door.

The opening of the trunk door for retraction of the roof is thereforebased among other factors on two lateral systems and one lock systemprovided with a gooseneck hinge, which systems are independent. In eachof the lateral systems, the intermediate chassis is formed in one piece,which provides savings of parts and therefore of weight and money, andbetter stability of each lateral system. Synchronization of themovements of the two lateral systems is achieved by transmission of acontrol signal equivalent to a pressure to the first pneumatic systems.Such synchronization thus makes it possible to operate without amechanical appendage connecting the two lateral systems. It is to benoted that the trunk door may advantageously have a flexibility that ispredetermined to be adapted to the movements of the independent lateralsystems.

Installation of the mechanisms of the roof and the trunk door on thevehicle can be achieved as follows. The substructure of a vehicle, or inother words the totality of the structures of the body of the vehicleother than opening members and roof, arrives on an assembly line. Afirst assembly formed among other components by the mounting plate andthe intermediate chassis, which is clipped onto the mounting plate, isinstalled on the side faces inside the trunk zone. This assembly alsocontains the second pneumatic system and the articulation system formedby rods, as well as the support plate intended to be made integral withthe trunk door. The whole is delivered to the assembly line togetherwith the mounting plate and chassis clipped together, with thearticulation system folded up and the second pneumatic system connectedat its lifter body to the support plate and clipped at the end of itspiston also to the support plate. This piston end is intended to befixed to the third support portion of the intermediate chassis at theend of installation. At first it is clipped onto the support plate tofacilitate manipulation by the operator, after which it is unclipped andpositioned on the chassis as soon as the lateral opening members areinstalled. It is to be noted that the fact that the assembly comprisingmounting plate and chassis arrives clipped together on the assembly linemakes it possible to fix the assembly without dispersion between oneinstallation and another. The support plate is then made integral withthe trunk door when this arrives on the assembly line. The mechanism ofthe trunk door is then almost installed. Only the first pneumaticsystem, which must be installed between the first articulation portionof the chassis and the mounting plate, is missing. This first pneumaticsystem is delivered to the assembly line with the roof. In fact, theroof is delivered to the assembly line with at least the hydraulicdistribution box, the left and right first hydraulic systems, the shelf12, the closure flaps 14 and the mechanism associated with this shelf 12and these flaps 14. The fact that a hydraulic assembly is delivered inthis way as a unit permits the operator to achieve easier installationof the hydraulic cables. Once the roof is in place, all that is left forthe operator is to fix the hydraulic distribution box in the trunk andto connect it to a control unit, so that the hydraulic pressure controlsignals necessary to bring about movement of the mechanisms of the roofand of the trunk can be transmitted from the control unit to thepneumatic systems. The operator must also fix the first pneumatic systembetween the chassis and the mounting plate, by fixing the lifter body onthe mounting plate, advantageously in the lower portion of this mountingplate, and by installing the free end of the piston to rotate on thefirst articulation portion of the chassis. By means of a cable of thebicycle-brake type, the operator must also connect the mechanism of thetrunk door and the mechanism of the shelf 12 delivered with the roof.Synchronized actuation of the opening movements of the roof and of thetrunk door is ensured among other features by this connection.

TABLE OF REFERENCES ACCORDING TO FIGS. 1 TO 6

-   6 Trunk lid-   8 Rear zone of the vehicle-   10 Rear cover structure-   12 Rear shelf-   14 Closure flaps-   16 Interior Arm-   18 Actuating mechanism of the closure flaps-   20 First pulley-   22 Principal pivot shaft-   24 Cam-   26 Roof panel

1. A device for a retractable roof for a vehicle, comprising: a roofpanel configured to be shifted by a guide from a closed position in azone of passengers of the vehicle to a retracted position in a rear zoneof the vehicle, wherein the guide includes at least one arm; a rearcover structure, including a rear shelf, wherein the rear shelf isconfigured to be actuated automatically via a mechanism between a restposition and an open position; and a pivot shaft attached to the atleast one arm and the mechanism, wherein the at least one arm and themechanism pivot around the pivot shaft.
 2. A device according to claim1, wherein the rear shelf is configured to be actuated toward the openposition during movement of the roof panel toward the retractedposition.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rear shelf isconfigured to be actuated toward the open position during movement ofthe roof panel from the retracted position toward the closed position.4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rear shelf is configuredto be actuated from the open position toward the rest position duringmovement of the roof panel from the retracted position or toward theretracted position.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rearshelf is actuated with a rotary movement of the mechanism around thepivot shaft.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rear shelf isconnected to a portion of the roof and, during retraction of the roof,the rear shelf is configured to become detached from the portion of theroof by a first movement and is configured to be shifted to the openposition by a second movement.
 7. A device according to claim 6, whereinthe first and second movements have directions that are substantiallyopposite to one another.
 8. A device according to claim 7, wherein thefirst and second movements are rotary movements around a traverse shaftthat is substantially transverse.
 9. A device according to claim 1,further comprising closure flaps that extend toward an exterior oflateral portions of the rear shelf, and which are mounted to rotate onthe rear shelf and which are configured to pivot during movement of theroof panel.
 10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the closure flapspivot toward an interior of the vehicle during movement of the roofpanel.
 11. A device according to claim 9, wherein the roof panel isretracted under a trunk door of the vehicle, the trunk door being causedto move toward an open position during movement of the roof panel, andmovement of the closure flaps is actuated by a kinematic operationgenerated by the movement of the trunk door.
 12. A device according toclaim 9, wherein the closure flaps are positioned beneath the rear shelfwhen the roof panel is in the closed position.
 13. A device for aretractable roof for a vehicle, comprising: a roof panel configured tobe shifted by a guide from a closed position in a zone of passengers ofthe vehicle to a retracted position in a rear zone of the vehicle; and arear cover structure, including a rear shelf, wherein the rear shelf isconfigured to be actuated automatically between a rest position and anopen position, wherein the roof panel is retracted under a trunk door ofthe vehicle, the trunk door being caused to move toward an open positionduring movement of the roof panel, and movement of the rear shelf isactuated by a kinematic operation generated by the movement of the trunkdoor.
 14. A vehicle, comprising: a roof device, comprising: a roof panelconfigured to be shifted by a guide from a closed position in a zone ofpassengers of the vehicle to a retracted position in a rear zone of thevehicle, wherein the guide includes at least one arm, a rear coverstructure, including a rear shelf, wherein the rear shelf is configuredto be actuated automatically via a mechanism between a rest position andan open position, and a pivot shaft attached to the at least one arm andthe mechanism, wherein the at least one arm and the mechanism pivotaround the pivot shaft; and a motive power source for actuating themechanism.
 15. A vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the motive powersource comprises an actuating mechanism shared with the guide.
 16. Avehicle according to claim 15, wherein the actuating mechanism comprisesa hydraulic device.
 17. A vehicle according to claim 14, wherein theroof panel is retracted under a trunk door of the vehicle, the trunkdoor being caused to move toward an open position during movement of theroof panel, and movement of the rear shelf is actuated by a kinematicoperation generated by the movement of the trunk door.
 18. A vehicleaccording to claim 14, further comprising closure flaps that extendtoward an exterior of lateral portions of the rear shelf, and which aremounted to rotate on the rear shelf and which are configured to pivotduring movement of the roof panel, wherein the roof panel is retractedunder a trunk door of the vehicle, the trunk door being caused to movetoward an open position during movement of the roof panel, and movementof the closure flaps is actuated by a kinematic operation generated bythe movement of the trunk door.
 19. A vehicle according to claim 18,wherein the closure flaps are positioned beneath the rear shelf when theroof panel is in the closed position.